Nimcha Saber Sheath Silver 800/1000 - Morocco, 19th 1st Half 20th Century

Nimcha saber with 800/1000 silver scabbard - Morocco, 19th 1st half of the 20th century Silver scabbard (800/1000) of very fine workmanship (approximately 1100gr). Numerous Moroccan hallmarks (ram's head) for silver verification on the scabbard. The ram's head hallmark was adopted in Morocco in 1925 and has not been used since the end of the 20th century. The scabbard was probably made in the 1930s to replace the original scabbard of the saber. It is indeed common practice in the Maghreb and in the Islamic world to preserve old sabers and blades and to reassemble them with a scabbard or handle more in fashion at the time. The silver ring on the handle and the silver rivet button also seem to be a reworking from the same period as the scabbard. The blond horn handle, guard and blade (European import, perhaps Germanic) can be dated to the 19th century. Note the oxidation on the steel of the blade and guard. An old indigenous restoration on the horn of the handle (small joint with the same type of horn used). The lower beak of the upper end of the handle seems to have been reworked. Total length 100cm Length without scabbard 93.5cm Blade length 78.5cm Weight 1880gr Weight without scabbard 730gr